The Pruning of the Enemy . . .
"For, before the harvest, when the blossom is gone and the flower becomes
a
ripening grape, he will cut off the shoots with pruning knives, and cut down
and take away the spreading branches." (Isa 18:5)
I don't know about you, but pruning knives, being cut down, having spreading
branches cut away . . . This verse certainly does NOT express MY idea of a
fine time! And it certainly doesn't describe what a loving God would do!
But before we get too upset, let's take a look at the verse just before this
one:
"This is what the LORD says to me: 'I will remain quiet and will look on
from my dwelling place, like shimmering heat in the sunshine, like a cloud
of dew in the heat of harvest.'" (Isa 18:4)
Notice that God isn't the one doing the pruning. He is simply allowing it
to happen. The pruning is being done by someone called "he". And
who is
"he"? Would it be too much to suggest that this might be the "he"
that
brought on all of Job's calamities??? How many times do you hear it
something like this: "God is punishing me". Yet the Bible is
clear: God
isn't the one who punishes. He sometimes, in His wisdom, allows us to be
punished by the enemy, but He is not the one who does the punishing! And
how many times have you heard people say that they felt like God is
abandoning them? Yet this text is clear: God is watching from His dwelling
place! We may be undergoing a pruning process, but God is constantly paying
attention to what is happening!
But this leads to the next question: Why is God going to allow this major
"pruning" to happen. The answer is found in Isaiah 18:7: "At
that time
gifts will be brought to the LORD Almighty".
God was allowing "pruning" by the enemy in order that in the end, the
people
might honor God! God doesn't allow bad things to happen for no reason! He
uses bad times to bring people to Him!
Let's remember this passage the next time we feel the snip of the
"pruning
shears" tugging at our families, our friends, our sources of income, or
even
on ourselves. God's promises are true. He really WILL work all things
"for
the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his
purpose." (Rom. 8:28)
Lord, I give you full reign of my life. Wherever you see the need, send in
the pruning shears! Cut away the branches! Stamp out any part of me that
will keep me from being who you desire me to be! I trust you, for you have
said that during these times you will not abandon me. Rather you will
remain quiet and look on from your dwelling place, so that in the end, I
too, will bear good fruit for You!
Love in Christ,
Lyn
Lyn Chaffart,
Moderator, The Nugget, Scriptural Nuggets (
www.sermonillustrator.org/minisermons/ ), Answers2Prayer Ministries,
www.Answers2Prayer.org ,